Sometimes I am so distracted by my own issues that I miss the obvious. Yesterday morning, a three car accident happened 25 yards or less from my bathroom, and I was oblivious. When I left for work, I saw 3 emergency vehicles, whose sirens I did not hear, and saw 3 demolished automobiles. Ambulances had already come and gone. I heard nothing.

My home is far from sound proof. I hear traffic all the time. The only thing between the busy road and my patio is a privacy fence. I routinely feel the sub-wolfers from "pimped out" rides as they go by. I know when traffic is heavy, and when it eases, by the noise outside of my walls, but I heard nothing.

In my defense, I was probably in the shower for part of this. My wife considers me a detail person. I notice lots of things. Lots of useless things. My mom tells a story from my younger days, when a lady came to our home. Upon her entrance, I announced, "You had those shoes on last time you came over." Important stuff, right?

I would like to claim that I was so focused on my Bible study and prayer time (which were also happening during the approximate time of the accident) that I just didn't notice. The truth is, I cannot figure out how I missed it.

This was preying upon my thoughts on the way to work, when my own near miss occurred. I was driving in the left lane of a busy four lane road. There were cars coming toward me, and there was one heading my same direction, who was a bit behind me, in the right lane. Without warning, a white van pulled out from my right, from a neighborhood. They had no right of way, no space, and no time for their maneuver.

Tires squealing, blood pressure spiking, and nature trying to make a 911 call, I swerved into on-coming traffic as this van pulled directly into my lane, and headed right for me. I do not know how metal to metal contact was avoided. Only the Lord's intervention prevailed. We were moving much to fast, and the situation was far too dangerous for defensive driving to get credit.

I am thankful that God is on the throne. I know I have been spared from a horrific end. In the eight months since BJ passed, there have been times where in all honesty, I would have welcomed a different outcome. Not today. There is too much to do, and too little time to accomplish it.

I know I need to get my head in the game, and be sensitive to His leading no matter the circumstances. Recognizing the cracks or opportunities as they are revealed is what it's about.

You still have my attention, Lord! I am listening, and I am thankful!

brent

Happy 19th Birthday Whitney! I love you, honey, and I'll see you in Dallas this afternoon!!!

My brother Brad is having surgery on his spine today. They are entering through his neck (throat) to try to correct issues from a car accident this winter, where he was hit by a young man who ran a stop sign. Please lift him up.